Coogee rooftop

Upstairs at the Coogee Pavillion, 169 Dolphin St, Coogee

The view: Is one of Sydney’s best, overlooking stunning Thompsons Bay. It’s what makes the bar one of Sydney’s most popular rooftop haunts during daylight hours. The vibe: Was relaxed on a low-key Thursday night, with only half the rooftop tables occupied and the spacious inside area all but deserted. Designed to look like “an eccentric botanist’s conservatory” there are four separate bars serving the spacious venue, which becomes packed to capacity on a warm summer’s eve.

The chat: Was less than forthcoming from our bartender, who seemed a touch out of her depth. When we asked what the most popular cocktail was, she seemed stumped before hazarding a guess. To be fair, she’s probably used to a more hectic pace and having to pump out drinks to order, rather than making chit chat with the punters. The menu: Comprises an exotic – and somewhat cryptic — selection of custom cocktails, along with all the classics and a decent selection of both wine and beer. Foodwise, the kitchen serves Mediterranean tapas, otherwise you can head downstairs for a wider selection of pizza, pasta, salads and fresh seafood.

The expectation: With marble and brass fixtures, there’s no question this is a classy joint so we knew we were in pretty safe hands. We ordered the Cravado [wyborowa, lychee, lime, mint, coconut water] along with a Go Loco [olmeca altos reposado, pink grapefruit, green apple, agave, szechuan] and a Pink Flamingo #2 [absolut, lillet blanc, campari, lemon, raspberry]. All at A$18 each. The reality: The Cravado was a bright green, icy delight that would have been perfect on a hot summer’s afternoon. The Pink Flamingo was sweeter than expected, but beautifully presented, while the Go Loco was a punchy firecracker of a drink. The Cravado was definitely the winner — but we still made the switch to wine after the first round.